Prue did what she could to salvage her appearance, although her face was pale and her eyes red. She shrugged her shoulders as she smoothed the skirts of her sage-green morning gown. She was unsuitably dressed but couldn’t muster any concern for how she looked as she left the room and made her way to the stairs.
Descending, she was halfway down the stairs when a tall man walked into view in the hall below. He carried himself with assurance and was immaculately dressed in a superfine dark-navy coat with gold buttons—which spoke of Bond Street tailoring—a cream waistcoat, fitted pale nankeen pantaloons and gleaming top boots. He approached the staircase where she’d paused, hoping he’d continue on without seeing her.
Too late. He gazed up and spied her, his long-fingered hand resting on the newel post. “Where have you been hiding? I don’t recall seeing you here.” He raised his dark eyebrows. “And you are not a lady one would forget.”
He made no attempt to disguise what he was thinking as his gaze ran over her. Mentally, he already had her stripped, she suspected, her nerves on edge.
Prue didn’t trust her voice and deigned not to reply. She continued down the stairs. When she reached the hall carpet, he made no attempt to move aside and make way for her. Prevented by a solid male body, Prue was forced to stop and look up into his assessing grayeyes. A smile lurked in their depths. She recoiled with horror as a thought struck her. Did he believe her to be one of the women she’d seen behaving so shamefully? He was every inch a rake and no doubt enjoyed the freedom the house party offered.
She took a nervous breath and moved to walk around him. As she attempted to pass, he reached out and placed a hand on her arm. “Don’t hurry away. Whoever he is will wait awhile.”
Astonished, Prue tried to pull away. “Do I know you, sir?”
“We can become better acquainted, but first, I’ll have a kiss, madam.”
Before she could even think much about what he’d said, or how a strange part of her was excited at the idea, he spun her around, and with a hand palming the back of her neck and the other at her waist drawing her against the hard planes of his body, he pressed his lips to hers. Startled, she struggled, breathing in his masculine scent, and clutched his coat, overwhelmed by his insistent mouth. Coming to her senses, she put a hand on his chest and shoved at him with all her strength.
“Just as sweet as I expected.” Holding up his hands, he backed off with a grin.
Prue’s experience of fumbled kisses from young men had never remotely been like this practiced kiss. When his tongue had traced the seam of her lips, she’d been stunned by the rush of desire to open her mouth to him. Anger at herself as well as him surged through her. “Touch me again and I’ll…shoot you!”
He made a pointed examination of her, from her neck to her toes. “Would I find a gun hidden somewhere if I were to search for it?”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “You’ll be sorry should you try.”
His laugh made her blood boil. Prue went up on her toes and slapped him across the face with such force, her fingers tingled. She resisted shaking them, pleased to see he no longer smiled. He held ahand to his reddened cheek, his eyebrows raised. “Am I wrong to assume that you are one of the lady, er…guests?”
“Indeed, you are, sir.” She glared at him; her hands clenched. “I am here to see Lord Bain.”
“Then I must beg your pardon.” He bowed. “Viscount Hereford.” But his eyes gleamed, clearly more amused than sorry. “Allow me to escort you safely to him.”
In her disheveled condition, would he believe her to be Lord Bain’s lady love? The firm touch of his lips still lingered, distracting her. “I know where to find him,” she said stiffly, resisting licking her bottom lip.
He held out his arm. “Please, this is not a place where a young lady should be.”
“Clearly, it is not,” she said wryly. “But I prefer to go alone. I’d feel much safer without your escort.”
She heard him chuckle as she left him and marched down the corridor.
Prickles of awareness still danced down her spine, but she refused to admit his kiss had stirred something indefinable within her. Taking herself to task, she hastened to knock on Lord Bain’s library door.
“Come,” Lord Bain called.
She glanced behind her. The outrageous rake stood at a distance with a slight frown, arms folded. He didn’t believe her. Why should she care what he thought? With a sigh of relief, she slipped into the library and closed the door behind her.
Lord Bain looked up from his desk, no doubt surprised by her unannounced entrance. “Sit down, my dear.” He stood up with pursed lips, a hand pushing back his graying fair hair. Prue supposed she presented a problem he disliked having on his hands. “I must say again how sorry I am for the tragic loss of your father, Lady Prudence.” He took her hands and squeezed them gently before releasing them. “I hope you have recovered a little from your ordeal.”
As if she could! Prue was determined to find out if he knew more than he had revealed. A friend and neighbor of her father’s, he must have heard something. News traveled fast in this close-knit society. “My father was known in the community to be a good man; he never turned his back on those in need. He used to take me with him around the estate. When we visited the tenants, I saw how he cared for them. How they revered him. I don’t understand why anyone would want to kill him. Are you sure there isn’t a clue in that letter he wrote to you?”
“We were involved in a joint financial arrangement. I found him troubled, but I have no notion about what. I wish I had asked him. But men like to keep their secrets. I expect that as I live nearby, should anything happen to him, he was confident I would assist you. And I’m pleased to do whatever I can. Did you see anyone unknown to you on the estate before the shot was fired, Lady Prudence?”
She gripped her hands together. “I did. When I was coming downstairs for breakfast, a stranger rode into the grounds wearing a dark coat, his hat pulled low over his brow. He retreated immediately after the shot. I know that’s not very helpful, but try as I might, I can’t recall anything else about the man, which might prove to be of interest.”
“Never mind, my dear. You are deeply troubled. As am I. Mayhap some recollection will occur to you later.” He turned away with a sense of purpose. “Now, I have decided what’s best to do for you.” Lord Bain settled back in his chair, as if placing the desk between them removed any further need for discussion. “I have sent a footman with a message to Mr. Stanton’s London address. Am I right in assuming he is your father’s heir?”
“That is true.” She frowned, hating the idea of facing Roland, her father’s brother’s son. “He and my father weren’t particularly close. We haven’t seen him for years; he’s only just returned from the Continent.”
“I expect when he learns of the sad tidings, he will travel directly to Sedgwick Hall. He will deal with the magistrate and make all thenecessary arrangements. Lift those burdens from your small shoulders. You can join him there tomorrow or the following day when he arrives.” He paused as a shriek of laughing protest floated through the window. “Now you must rest. I’ll have luncheon sent to your chamber. Where is your maid?”
